Steelers Pick Up LB Ryan Shazier’s Fifth-Year Option

This was an easy move for the Steelers, Shazier is one of the game’s best young linebackers and core player for their defense.

The fifth-year option is guaranteed only for injury and won’t prevent them from working on a long-term extension over the next year.

Shazier, 24, was taken with the No. 15 overall pick by the Steelers back in 2014. He’s currently in the final year of his four-year, $9.5 million contract and set to make a base salary of $1,716,438 for the 2017 season.

In 2016, Shazier appeared in 13 games and recorded 87 tackles, 3.5 sacks, three interceptions, a fumble recovery, three forced fumbles and nine pass defenses. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 32 linebacker out of 87 qualifying players.